Electric attachment device.



C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT DEVTCE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1911.

Patented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Z Qifflfises: Elem mark/mam.

C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 1911.

Eatented. May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

" CHARLES J". K LEIN, OCE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

I ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed November 20, 1911. Serial No. 661,252.

following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric attachment devices.

It has among its objects to provide animproved electric attachment device wherein the removable plug member, when inserted in or removed from a receptacle, actuates a switch mechanism within the receptacle to make or break the circuit with a quick snap action.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved electric attachment device wherein the contacts on the attachment plug do not-carry current as they are first inserted or as they are withdrawn from the receptacle, but during their movement actuate a snap switch mechanism, which makes or breaks the circuit with a quick snap action simultaneously at a plurality of points in such a manner as to divide up the are and materially reduce the amount of spark- 1ng.

Other objects and advantages of my improved construction will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, I have, for purposes of illustration, shown one form which myinvention may assume in practice. My invention is not, however, limited to this embodiment but may assume other forms.

In the views of these drawings :Figure lshows a central sectional view of this form of device. Fig. 2 shows a central sectional 'view on line 22 of Fig.- 1. Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of the device with the attachment plug removed. Fig. 4 shows a trans verse sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows a bottom plan View ofthe plug member. Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a portion of the operating mechanism. 4

Inthe construction illustrated in the drawings, I have shown a removable plug member 1 carrying a plurality of contact plugs 2'arranged to move in openings 3 in a receptacle 4 to actuate a rotatable member 5 carrying contact members 6 to make or break the circuit at a plurality of points intermediate the contact plugs 2 and the terminals on the receptacle 4.

In a preferred form I provide a plug member 1 formed of insulating material and carrying a plurality of plug contacts 2 located substantially opposite each other on one surface of the plug member and in the same plane. These plug members 2 are preferably elongated and hollow and substantially rectangular in cross section, being provided with oppositely located open sides as shown in Figs. land 6. In a preferred form each of these plug contacts is providedwith a plurality of extensions 7, 8 and 9 which are attached to the plug member 1 by any suitable means. One of each of these sets, of extensions preferably carries binding screws 10 which are arranged adjacent a central bore 11 in the body portion of the plug member through which the conductors extend. If desired, the surface of the plug member 1 adjacent the binding screws 10 may be suitably cutaway or recessed as at 12 in order to enable the conductors to be knotted.

In a preferred form each of the contact plugs 2 is provided with a member arranged to engage the member 5 to rotate the same.

In a preferred form each of these members is pivoted near its inner end to the plug 2and serves to form a yielding wall which completes the rectangular shape of the plug members 2. As shownin Fig. 1, one of these plugs 2 is provided with a yielding member 13 having an enlarged end 14 pivoted at 15 within the contact plug. In a preferred form a spring 16 is coiled about the pivot pin 15 and provided with extended ends. one of which presses against the back wall of the plug, while the other presses against the yielding member 13, tending to keep it normally in a forward position with re pect to the pivot. In order to limit the forward movement of the member 13 stops 17 may be provided on the side walls of the plugs 2. In a preferred form the sides of the member 13 are tapered toward its outer end and this outer end is provided with a laterally extending struck-up portion 18 which extends beyond the plane of the inner edges of the member 2. In a preferred form the member 13 is formed of a. single piece of bent metal.

The other contact plug 2 is. preferably provided with a similarly pivoted member 20 which is preferably of a substantially similar construction. However, in this instance a struck-up portion 21 is provided which extends in the opposite direction to the struck-up portion 18 on the member 13 and is located nearer the middle of the member 20. In a preferred form the struck-up portions or catches 18 and 21 are located substantially as shown in Fig. 1, the catch 18 on the member 13 being located near the end of that member, while the catch 21 on the other member is located slightly above the end of that member as shown. In a preferred form the outer free ends of both of the members 13 and 20 are slightly rounded as shown at 22 in Fig. 1.

The plug receptacle 4 is preferably formed of insulating material and is provided with a suitable chamber 23 arranged to receive and permit the rotation of the member 5. In a preferred form this member 5 is formed of insulating material in the form of a square block as shown in Fig. 7, and is mounted in a substantially U-shaped frame 24 fixed to the bottom of the chamber 23 by any suitable means, and having upwardly extending arms 25 in which a transverse shaft 26 is journaled. This shaft 26 preferably extends through the member 5 and is provided with an inclosing sleeve 27 which preferably extends between the arms 25 of the frame and is provided with over turned ends 28 arranged to fit snugly against the inner surface of the arms. The rotary member 5 is preferably provided with integral extensions 29 on each side of substantially cylindrical cross section.

through which the sleeve 27 and shaft 26 extend. In a preferred form the extensions 29 are insulated from the arms 25 and the ends of the sleeve 27 by means of insulating 'washers 30 which in turn are preferably spaced from the portion 28 by suitable brass washers 31. In a preferred form the ends of the extensions 29 are provided with elliptical shaped extensions 32 and are surrounded by the hubs of the movable contact members 6. In a preferred form these movable contact members are provided with openings similar in shape to the extensions 32, in which these extensions fit snugly so that, as the block 5 is rotated, the contact members 6 will be carried with it. In a preferred form the contact members 6 are formed in two sections as shown in Fig. 4, the parts being connected around the extensions 32 and provided with oppositely extending spaced arms which are arranged to receive between then the stationary contacts within the chamber In a preferred form the base 4 is preferably provided with a plurality of stationary contact members 33, 34 and 35. The contact members 33 are preferably mounted opposite ends of the chamber 23 and are re silient, extending downward and being preferably substantially U-shaped as shown in Fig. 1. These contacts are preferably adapted to act as the engaging contacts for the contact plugs 2. In a preferred form these contact members are provided with lateral extensions 36 attached to terminal posts 37 which are preferably formed integral with the contacts 34 and extend at right angles thereto. These contacts 34 are preferably arranged diagonally with respect to each other in opposite corners of the chamber 23 and preferably extend at right angles to the body portion of the contacts 33 so that they may each be engaged by free ends of the rotating contact members 6. In a preferred form the contacts 35 are located as in the case of the contacts 34, diagonally opposite each other in opposite corners of the chamber 23, and as in the case of the contacts 34, are likewise preferably formed so that the active contact surface of the same extend at right angles to the body portions 38 in such a manner that the ends of the rotating contacts 6 may readily engage the same. In a preferred form binding screws 39 are provided at diagonally opposite corners of the base, one of the same being attached to one of the terminal posts 38, while the other is attached to the diagonally opposite terminal post 37. Obviously these several contact members may be attached to the bottom of the chamber 23 by any suitable means, as, for instance, by screws 40 as shown in Fig. 5. In a preferred form the active contact surfaces of the contacts 34 and 35 are short as shown in Fig. 5 and provided with substantially tapered edges, and the active surfaces of the rotatable contacts 6 are considerably longer than the stationary contacts, so that a wiping action may be provided, tending to reduce the spark and to keep the contact surfaces clean.

In a preferred form I provide beneath the rotating block 5 a kick-off device which, when the block is brought around by the engagement of the struck-up portions 18 and 21, serves to assist in the movement of the block with a quick snap action. As shown in Fig. 1, this kick-off device includes in a preferred form, a cylindrical shell 41, which is mounted .upon the bottom of the U-shaped frame 24 and attached to the same in any suitable manner as by a rivet or other suitable means 42. This shell or casing 41 is preferably arranged to house a spiral spring 43 having a cap 44 arranged normally to bear against the bottom surface of the block to position the same and to move up. and down within the casing and be guided in its movement by the engagement of projections 45 in slots 46. \Vhen the block 5 is rotated, its corners successively engage, the upper surfaces of the cap 44 and press the same downward to compress the spring 43. After the corner provided with an insulating cover plate 47 which is attached-to thesame by means of suitable screws or bolts 48, preferably lo cated on opposite sides of the "receptacle. In order to facilitate the connection of these boltssuitable grooves 49 are preferably provided in the sides of the receptacle. The cover plate 47 is preferably provided with suitable recesses to permit the free rotation of the contact members and openings 3 through which the contact plugs 2 may pass. In a preferred form this plate is also provided with a plurality of grooves 50'and 51 which enable the conductors to be readily attached to the binding screws 39.

If desired, the receptacle 4 may be-seated in a wall in substantially the same manner as a flushswitch, and when used in such a relation this receptacle may be provided with a face plate of the usual construction, and an intermediate plate 53 attached thereto by screws 54 and itself attached to the ends of the screws or bolts 48 as in the usual construction, In a preferred form-this face plate is provided with openings between the screws 54 through which an extension 55 on the cover plate 47 extends in such a manner as to effectually insulate the contact members 2 from the face plate.

Itis obvious that the body of the attachment plug 1 may be formed in any desired shape and of any suitable material. In a preferred form, however, I form the body of this plug member of 'two pieces of insulating material as shown in Fig. ,1. In order to assist in applying the plug in its proper position, I preferably provide a recess in the base arranged to receive a pin 56 on the plug member. 1

Assuming that the plug member is removed and that the circuit of the device is open, all that it is necessary to do in order to close this circuit is to insert the plug member. When the contact plugs 2 are inserted within the chamber 23 in the receptacle 4 theypass between the contacts 33 and the sides-of the block 5. As the struckup portion 18 passes the receptacle its rounded surface slides over the corner of the block 5. When, however, it has moved past this corner, the downwardly extending portion 21 engaes the opposite corner of the block and orces it around about its pivot until the lower adjacent corner engages the cap 44. When this lower corner passes a median point, the cap springs upward and throws the block farther to the left to complete its rotation with a quick the same by arcing.

- snapaction. In this movement it cooperates with the resiliently mounted members 13 and 20. As the. contact members 6 are arranged to rotate with the block 5,

when this block is rotated these contact members are rotated to make or break the circuit at the contacts 34 and 35. The block 5 may thus be rotated to cause these members to move past the stationary contacts with a quick wiping action to complete the circuit between the binding posts 39 through the stationary resilient contacts 33, the plug contacts 2, and conductors connected thereto. Conversely, when the plug is removed from the receptacle the circuit is broken, the struck-up portion 18 in this instance engaging the lower adjacent corner of the block and rotating the block in the same direction to rotate the. contact members 6' in the same direction to break the circuit with a quick wiping action. Thus it is seen that as the contact plugs are inserte d or removed, the block is continuously rotated in the same direction and causes the movable contact members connected thereto to rotate continuously in'the same direction.

By my improved construction I have provided an improved electric attachment debers are removed. Thus, I am able to pre- 1 vent any damage to these plug members and efiectually prevent the destruction of quickly provision of my improved rotatingcontact member, I am able to provide a snap switch mechanism which, when the-contact plugs reach a pre-determined position, acts promptly and exceedingly quickly to make or break the circuit as desired. By the use of my improved kick-off device, I am ableto provide a device for assisting the resilient plug members in rotating the contact member and at the same time provide'a means for positioning the block since the cap normally rests against the lower surface of the latter. By the provision of my improved means for dividing up the Furthermore, by the arc through breaking the circuit at a plurality of points with a'qu'ick snap action,

switch mechanism-may not readily be operated from the outside, except upon the insertion of a plug of the particular construction required. By the provision of the automatically acting snap switch mechanism inclosed within the receptacle, I am able to provide a device which is of an exceedingly rugged construction, in which the parts are effectually protected so that they may withstand long use in service. Further, by my improved construction, I am able to provide an improved device of exceedingly simple and compact construction, which construction may be readily adapted to a wide range of uses and which may be readily manufactured and assembled at small expense.

lVhile I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, I am aware that the form of the same may be changed to adapt it to other conditions, and I consequently do not intend to be limited to the form described for purposes of illustration, but intend rather to include within the scope of this application all of those forms of my invention falling within its spirit.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In combination, an attachment plug having contacts, a receptacle having contacts which cooperate therewith and means operated directly by said plug contacts during the insertion and withdrawal thereof for closing and opening the circuit in which said receptacle contacts are connected, with a snap action independently of the rate of movement of said plug contacts.

2. In an electric attachment device, a receptacle having contacts spaced apart, a switch for opening and closing the circuit to said contacts, a rotatable actuating member-for said switch, a plug member having contacts spaced apart to cooperate with said receptacle contacts, said plug contacts being arranged on opposite sides of said rotatable member and adapted to actuate the same upon insertion and withdrawal thereof.

3. In a snap switch, rotatable switch contacts, a polygonal actuating member therefor, a removable plug member having a pair of contacts adapted to yieldingly bear against opposite sides of said actuating member when inserted and withdrawn from its receptacle, catches on said contacts for engaging said member to give it a partial rotation, and means independent of said contacts for imparting a further rotation thereto with a snap action.

4. In an electric attachment device, in combination, a receptacle part having supply line terminals, a plug part having translating line terminals, a switch mechanism carried by one of said parts having an operated contactor for controlling circuit from said supply terminals to said translating terminals and means including a member carried by said plug for actuating said contactor with a snap movement independently of the rate of movement of said plug upon connection and disconnection of the latter to and from said receptacle.

5. In an electric attachment device, in combination, a receptacle having supply line terminals, a plug having translating line terminals, a switch mechanism carried by said receptacle having an operated contactor for controlling circuit at a plurality of points from said supply terminals to said translating terminals and means including a member carried by said plug for actuating said contactor with a snap movement independently of the rate of movement of said plug for completing circuit upon connection of the latter and breaking circuit upon disconnection thereof.

6. In an electric switch device, a plug member carrying contacts, a rotatable switch mechanism and means cooperating therewith to be actuated by said plug member when moved in opposite directions to make or break the circuit at a plurality of points, by rotation always in the same direction.

7. In a device of the character described,

, in combination, a switch mechanism having a rotatable part, a plug, and means cooperating with said part to be actuated with a snap movement in a single direction by said plug when moved in opposite directions for effecting a circuit make and break at a plurality of points simultaneously.

8. In an electric attachment device, a contact carrying plug member, a rotating switch mechanism and means for rotating said switch mechanism in the same direction by movement of the plug member in either direction.

9. In combination, a receptacle having a chamber formed therein, a contact member rotatable in said chamber, a plug member and means including a plurality of pawls for actuating said contact member always in the same direction.

10. In combination, an insulating receptacle having a chamber formed therein, a rotatable contact member journaled in said chamber, and a removable plug member carrying pawls for rotating said contact member with a step-by-step movement.

11. In combination, an insulating receptacle having a chamber formed therein, a frame carried in said chamber, a rotatable contact member journaled in said frame, and a removable plug member carrying pawls for engaging said contact member torotate the same with a step-by-step movement.

12. In combination, a removable plug member having elongated hollow contact members provided with pivoted yielding walls, a receptacle arranged to receive said plug members, and a snap switch mechanism engaged by said yielding walls and actuated thereby.

13. In combination, a movable contact member, a plug member arranged to be reciprocated to actuate the same, and means including a resilient kick-off device engaging said movable contact member for completing the movement thereof with a quick snap action independently of the movement of said plug member.

14. In an electric switch in combination, a rotatable actuating member, a pair of yielding members bearing against opposite sides thereof, and cooperating engaging means on all of said members whereby relative bodily movement thereof will cause the engagement of said means and thereby r0- tate said member and throw it ahead after a predetermined movement.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN.

Witnesses:

U. L. ROCKWELL, GEo. HAYNES. 

